Trade in 20ga 870 for 12ga 870?

[Seattle206]

My first gun ever is a brand new remington 870 express magnum which I got as "b-day present" from my dad on july 4th 06', I was 19, and in about a month I'm going to turn 21.

I've put about 200rds into it, and I've handled all sorts of shots for it.

I also have a stevens 311 12ga, and I can handle it with buckshot and slugs easily. This got to thinking whether I should trade in my 20ga 870 for a used 12ga or a new one and just pay the difference. for a 12ga I can find a large variety of loads, while the 20ga is limited. the largest buckshot I can find for the 20ga are 3" 2 buck 18pellets.

or Im also thinking of just keeping the 20ga and buying a hd mossberg 7+1 pump in 12ga. But if I do that I feel the 20ga will be left to collect dust.

what should i do?

 

[AStone]

Seattle,

What do you intend to do with a shotgun?

That is, what are its uses?
Hunting? If so, what?
Self-defense?
Trap? Skeet?

And how bummed out will your dad be
if you trade/sell that 20 that he gave you?

 

[Seattle206]

my dad wont be bummed out at all if i traded it. trust me.

My intentions is for hunting: phesants, chukar, and ducks. also clay and targets, and as well as hd. I know that a 20ga can do all of that but it seems like I am limited to a limited selection of ammo compared to the 12.

 

[mnrivrat]

Just my opinion, but I would trade the 311 off for a 12ga. 870 to fill the purposes you intend to use the gun for.

I would keep the 20ga.

 

[ugaarguy]

Seattle, put some more rounds down range in that 20ga 870 - a bunch more. If you need / want an HD shotgun 18.5" cylinder bore bbls for 870s are cheap and plentiful, and 20 ga is plenty for HD.

After you get alot more rounds thru your 20 ga 870 it will be very clear if you need a 12 ga. I suspect you wont, but I don't know for sure. I do know that the 20 ga 870 will carry more easily in the field, and the recoil won't wear you out as bad as a 12 after a long day on the trap & skeet fields.

 

[theken206]

another vote for keep it

Seattle, you might not realize it now but a time may come when that gun might mean more too you than you will ever know. A mans first gun, let alone one gifted from his father is a marking moment in your life later on you will prolly cherish alot.That is a gift I would hold on to no doubt about it.

So what if it sits around collecting dust. You might want to pass that very weapon onto your own son someday or something.

 

[Quoheleth]

Keep the 20

Growing up, all I shot was a 20. I was (still am!) big; the recoil of the 12 wasn't the issue - the 20 was simply much more enjoyable to shoot. The gun was lighter, a bit less recoil, and handled a bit better. Granted, I haven't hunted ducks with it, but I never felt outgunned when shooting dove, quail, rabbits, etc. I highly recommend carrying a 20 if you are walking fields - the ounces saved make a big difference at the end of the day.

+1 on trading the other SG for a Mossy 12. Reliable, inexpensive, and workhorse are all good adjectives for a Mossberg 500 series. They sometimes rattle a bit, but they will make up for it with tens of thousands of rounds with no problems (probably ). My Mossy 20 has lost track of it's diet of shells. It hasn't been used much lately, but it's there ready to rock when I get a chance!

Q

 

[jack the toad]

I'd keep the 20 and acquire a 12 ASAP. You may not think much about it now
but someday you may wish you'd kept that b-day present from your dad.
Since my dad died years ago, I regret getting rid of anything he may have given me.

 

[Sav .250]

To me a 20 ga is a shooters gun. 12ga has more loads but for pure shooting pleasure...... it`s the 20 ga. IMO.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I say never sell an ancestor's gun, either gift or heirloom.

Used 12 gauge 870s are not expensive, a day or two of OT will pay for one easily.

And, you may have kids that someday you'll want to say something like this to...

"My Dad gave me this long ago and now I'm giving it to you"....

 

[Geno]

+1 for Never sell a gift.

+1 for 20 gauge is more than enough for home defense. Just buy an additional barrel.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Good used 870s abound and are not expensive. No need to trade anything, sell anything, sacrifice anyhing to get one- save pocket change for a while and you can pay cash for one soon enough.

Paid-for shotguns are better than money in the bank. That's your investment advice for the day 8^) and worth what you paid for it too.

lpl/nc

 

[RNB65]

Keep 20.

Buy 12.

BA/UU/R.

 

[SASS#23149]

do NOT sell the 311

well,unlesss you just hate it or something sinister like that.

I"d keep the 20 ESPECIALLY considering the gift aspect,etc. You will prolly have kids before long,and re-gifting that gun will put a swelling in your heart.
trust me on that.


oh,if you were to sell the 311,you have my email.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I have 12's---but my nicest guns are 20's.

Keep the 20 and just get a 12 in addition.

 

[waterhouse]

My most used hunting gun is still a 20, partly because it was the one my dad gave me when I was young but mostly because it works so well and is easy to carry all day long.

I'd keep the 20, save up $150 or so, and go rescue a used 12 gauge 870 from a pawn shop.

 

[rantingredneck]

Even though your dad won't be bummed you traded it, some day you might be. I have every gun I ever got from my dad and personally it'll be a cold day in you know where before any of them is sold or traded. Keep that 20 and pass it down to your kids some day.

 

[Seattle206]

okay, i have came to a conclusion. I'm keeping the 20ga just for the senimental of it. and plus big 5 is have a sale on mossy shotguns for $250. i'll pick one up after work today.

 

[AStone]

Sounds like a good decision.

And all this talk about 20's is making me hungry ...

 

[SteelyNirvana]

Keep the 20. I bought a 20 when I turned 18 loved it and shot the crap outa it. Ran into money problems and gun had to go. Last year when I bought my Mossberg 500 I was pondering about getting it in 20 guage. I decided that I never had a 12ga and I was gonna have one. Well....I like it and all but it I cant spend all day shooting (cause of the recoil) like I did with the 20. So IMO I would keep it and get a 12. Heck,have you a pair of 870's.Thats what I'm gonna do when Dick's has the Mossy's back on sale this year. I'm gonna get another 500, but in 20ga.

 

[harbinger_j]

On THR if the question is should I sell this gun the answer is 99% of the time going to be NO.
And the follow up is usually buy another one.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

On THR if the question is should I sell this gun the answer is 99% of the time going to be NO.

Very well said ,harbinger_j. I know from my own experience that if you sell a gun sooner or later you'd wish you wouldn't have done it. Seattle206, if I were you, I'd keep every gun that comes into my possession unless it is an absolute piece of junk. You will regret it sooner or later if you don't.

 

[1911user]

On THR if the question is should I sell this gun the answer is 99% of the time going to be NO.
And the follow up is usually buy another one.

Common sense is what keeps THR growing....